Securing component

ABSTRACT

A fastening element for a plastic housing, especially a filter housing, which is fitted to a supporting structure so as to damp vibrations. To this end the housing is provided with the fastening element comprising a rubber-elastic member ( 12 ), especially a member produced by the two-component injection molding method, and a mounting member of the support structure is lockingly engaged with the fastening element so that the fastening element of the housing is functionally connected to the supporting structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening a housing,especially a filter housing, to a supporting structure.

In the state of the art a large number of fastening elements are known.The simplest kind is a screw fastener. This, however, has thedisadvantage that additional elements such as a screw and a nut arenecessary, and assembly requires considerable effort.

It is also known to mount a housing on a supporting structure with asnap fastener. To this end a pin, for example, is provided on thehousing, and is snapped into a corresponding opening in the supportingstructure. A disadvantage of this system, however, is the need for closetolerances. Also, several working steps are required in themanufacturing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a fasteningelement which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which alsoeliminates the need for close manufacturing tolerances, and offers goodacoustical isolation.

This object is achieved by providing a fastening element for securing aplastic housing to a supporting structure, wherein a holding area isprovided on the housing, and a rubber-elastic element is formed on saidhousing in said holding area and is connected to the supportingstructure.

The important advantage of the invention is that the fastening elementis equipped with a rubber-elastic element, which is made especially bythe two-component injection molding method. Such a fastening element canbe disposed on the plastic housing in a single procedure during themanufacture of the latter. No subsequent treatment or additionalprocessing are necessary.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, therubber-elastic element is composed of an elastomer, especially athermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

TPE can be worked by injection molding and has rubber-elastic propertieswhich can be adapted in their composition to a particular application.

An additional advantageous embodiment provides for configuring therubber-elastic element so as to achieve great tolerance-compensatingeffects.

This can be accomplished, for example, in that this element has a kindof pleated structure, or in that parts of the element are configured inthe manner of a cradle held at both ends.

One advantageous embodiment envisions the rubber-elastic element beingprovided with a vibration-damping body structure. Here again the use ofTPE has the advantage that this material has high damping qualities andconsequently vibrations caused by the supporting structure to which itis fastened are not transmitted to the housing, especially the filterhousing. Such vibrations are created, for example, in a motor vehicle.Especially the components of the motor, such as the filter housing andother peripheral elements, must be effectively decoupled from thesevibrations. The fastening element is suitable for doing this.

In order to affix the housing to the supporting structure, the fasteningelement is lockingly engaged with a corresponding counterpart member.This can be, for example, a screw or a pin. Of course, other fasteningelements are conceivable, such as straps. For fastening by means of ascrew it is desirable to provide in the rubber-elastic element a metalbushing which defines the effective screw length.

An advantageous variant of the invention provides for configuring thefastening element with a plug-in shape in the form of a pin. This pin isinserted into an opening in the supporting structure. Here, too, variousshapes can be achieved which display both a tolerance compensating and avibration damping action.

These and other features of preferred embodiments of the invention areto be found not only in the claims, but also in the description and thedrawings; whereby the individual features each can be realized bythemselves alone or in subcombinations in the embodiment of theinvention, and can be applied to other fields of use and constituteadvantageous as well as independently patentable features, for whichprotection is here claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further explained below with the aid ofembodiments. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a section taken through a fastening element made by atwo-component technique,

FIG. 2 a sectional view of a fastening element having vibration dampingproperties,

FIG. 3 a sectional view of a fastening element with an extended springflexure for vibration damping,

FIG. 4 a sectional and a top view of a fastening element having a simplestrap construction.

FIG. 5 a sectional view of a simple fastening element having a springaction for vibration damping,

FIG. 6 a plug in axial and radial cross section,

FIG. 7 a variant embodiment of a plug,

FIG. 8 a housing with fastening elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The sectional view of a fastening element according to FIG. 1 shows aportion of a plastic housing 10 in which a fastening element, i.e., arubber-elastic element 12, is disposed in an opening 11. This element ismanufactured by the two-component injection molding process, i.e., inthis process initially the first component, i.e., the plastic housing,is cast, and subsequently a slide is opened in the mold. This slideexposes the cavity for the rubber-elastic element. The composition formaking the fastening element is injected into this cavity. After bothelements or components have cooled, the complete housing can be removedfrom the injection mold.

The fastening element 12 is provided with a metal sleeve 13. Of course,such a sleeve is necessary only when it is in working connection with athreaded bolt or the like.

FIG. 2 again shows a portion of the plastic housing 10. The fasteningelement 12 is disposed thereon by the two-component injection moldingtechnique. It has a shape which is especially suitable for effectivelydamping vibrations which are transmitted through the fastening pin 14from the supporting structure 15. Moreover, the design of the fasteningelement 12 is suitable for compensating positional tolerances betweenthe mounting pin 14 and the plastic housing 10.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a fastening element with an extendedflexural length or softer action. Here again the plastic housing 10 canbe seen in part. The fastening element 12 is disposed on it. Thisfastening element has two long flanks 16 and 17 which, on the one hand,facilitate very great compensation of position, and on the other handhave very good vibration damping properties.

FIG. 4 shows in cross section and in plan view a fastening element ofsimple strap-like design. The fastening element 12 is injection moldedon the plastic housing 10 in the manner of a strap. The plan view showsthat this strap has at its front end an eye which is equipped with abore 18 to accommodate a bolt, not shown here. The connection betweenthe fastening element 12 and the plastic housing can be configured inany desired manner and withstands very large forces.

In FIG. 5 a fastening element is arranged on the plastic housing 10which is a simple strap, but also additionally has a bent fastenerportion 19. This facilitates better spring action to damp vibrations.

FIG. 6 shows a plug. In the axial section it can be seen that on theplastic housing 10 this plug is configured as a hollow cylindricalelement 20. The radial section shows the structure of the hollowcylindrical element. This is provided on its exterior with ribs 21. Tofasten the plastic housing 10 to a supporting structure, the element isinserted into a receiving bore.

FIG. 7 shows a variant of the this fastening element. While in the axialsection its integration with the plastic housing 10 can be seen, theradial section shows that the surface has no ribs. To secure theassembly, a cross rib 28 is provided. This prevents assembly errors,i.e., pinching of the buffer on the housing or on sheet metal is notpossible. The cross rib assures that the fastening element also getsinto the fastening bore.

In FIG. 8 the complete structure is shown. A plastic housing 10 isprovided with a plug 23 and two fastening straps 24 and 25. By means ofthe plug 23 the plastic housing is plugged into an opening 26 in thesupporting structure 27. Mounting pins are provided on the supportingstructure in the area of the fastening straps 24 and 25. The fasteningelements 12 integral with the respective fastening straps 24 and 25 areaffixed to the mounting pins.

The installation of the plastic housing is thereby very greatlysimplified and is performed substantially in a single operation, namelythe insertion of the housing by means of the plug and pressing it downonto the fastening pins 14.

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination, a plastic housing, a supportstructure having an aperture, and a fastening structure fastening saidplastic housing to said support structure; said fastening structurecomprising a rubber-elastic fastening element integrally molded on saidplastic housing by a two-component injection molding process; saidrubber-elastic fastening element comprising a plug received in theaperture of the support structure, said plug having atolerance-compensating body structure, and said tolerance compensatingbody structure comprising radially extending ribs formed exteriorly onsaid plug.
 2. A fastening structure according to claim 1, wherein saidhousing is an air filter housing for an internal combustion engine of amotor vehicle.
 3. A fastening structure according to claim 1, whereinthe rubber-elastic element is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.
 4. Afastening structure according to claim 1, wherein said fastening elementcomprises a plug received in an aperture in the supporting structure,and said tolerance compensating body structure comprises radiallyextending ribs formed exteriorly on the plug.
 5. A fastening structureaccording to claim 1, wherein the rubber-elastic element has avibration-damping body structure.
 6. A fastening structure according toclaim 1, wherein the fastening element has a contour which can belockingly received in an opening in the supporting structure.